Thomas Jerry Adams

Thomas Jerry Adams, affectionately known as Tom, 85, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2025. Born on September 5, 1939, in Clark, South Dakota, to Helen Anna Bockelman and Francis Bernard Adams, Tom was the youngest of five children. Raised in a Catholic family, he developed a strong sense of duty and kindness that defined his life.

At 17, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1957, serving on the USS Lester between the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He took great honor in serving his country, remaining deeply patriotic throughout his life and taking pride in displaying the American flag. During his service, he learned to weld, a skill that shaped his career. After declining to re-enlist, Tom began his civilian life, marrying his first wife, Karen Kay Wyatt, in 1961 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Their marriage of 33 years was filled with love and dedication until Karen’s passing in 1994.

Tom’s welding expertise led him to Merritt Trailers, Inc., in Portland, Oregon. In 1968, Merritt relocated Tom and his family to Bakersfield, California, to open a new branch, where he managed the shop, proudly saying, “I do everything on them except drive them.” After Karen’s passing, Tom transferred to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1994 with Freymiller Trucking, where he had been working for several years. There, he met his second wife, Joy Bishop, and they married in 1997. In their early years of marriage, Tom and Joy cherished time at their lake cabin near Grand Lake, Oklahoma, creating lasting memories. They also enjoyed traveling, primarily to visit family, strengthening bonds across the country. Tom retired from Freymiller in 2005, leaving a legacy of hard work and precision.

A meticulous man, Tom kept detailed records and found joy in simple pleasures: tending his flower garden, attracting hummingbirds, and watching OU football and Oklahoma City Thunder basketball. He had many admirable character qualities, but the one that stood out was his unwavering loyalty to his friends, family and colleagues. Known for his friendly and kind nature, he had a heart for caring for others and always wanted the best for his family. Tom will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Tom was preceded in death by his first wife of 33 years, Karen Adams; their daughter, Lynne Michele Ventolieri (Shelley); his parents, Helen and Francis Adams; his brother, John Adams; and his sister, Lorraine Westendorf.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Joy Adams (Oklahoma City, OK); his children from his first marriage, Kathryn Kay Baker (Kelly) and her husband, Rob (Bakersfield, CA), and Mitchell Thomas Adams (Mitch) (Bakersfield, CA); Joy’s children from her first marriage, Loyd Randall Bishop (Randy) and his wife, Youqin Chen (Cleveland, OH), Shelly Sanford and her husband, Terry (Oklahoma City, OK), and Kelly Copeland and her husband, Steve (Norman, OK); his brother, Don Adams (Vancouver, WA); his sister, Phyllis Likness (Vancouver, WA); 10 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life with Navy honors will be held at 1PM on Friday, June 27, 2025 at Meadowlake Farms Clubhouse, 10800 Silo Ridge Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73170. A memorial service will be held at a later date TBD at Greenlawn Cemetery SW in Bakersfield, CA.